How much does a telehealth app cost?
A telehealth app's cost depends on how much of the care workflow it covers: video visits, scheduling, intake forms, notes, prescriptions, payments and links to health records. Because it handles PHI, HIPAA safeguards and a BAA with every vendor in the data path add to both the build and the running costs.
Last updated
What drives the build cost
- 1Video visits: a video API with a BAA, waiting rooms, and handling poor connections.
- 2Scheduling across providers, time zones and visit types.
- 3Intake forms, consent and clinical notes.
- 4Integration with an EHR, labs or e-prescribing, which is often the biggest single item.
- 5Payments, insurance details or both.
- 6HIPAA work: access control, audit logs, encryption, backups and a risk analysis.
Costs that keep running
Video minutes, SMS and email reminders, hosting and the higher-priced plans some vendors require before they sign a BAA. Add security testing and maintenance. Price them per visit so you know your margin.
How OceanLab prices it
OceanLab prices product builds and embedded engineers either outcome-based, paid per milestone, or hourly at $30-50/hr depending on role and seniority, whichever suits the client.
The first step is a clickable prototype of the patient and clinician journeys, so the scope is clear before the production build is priced.
Check it for your case.
Common follow-up questions.
Can I use a regular video API?
Only one whose provider will sign a BAA for the service you use. Check the plan and features it covers.
Should I build or buy a telehealth platform?
Buy if a platform fits your workflow and pricing. Build when the care model, integrations or patient experience are what make you different.
Do I need FDA approval?
Most scheduling and video tools do not. Software that diagnoses or treats can be a medical device. Check with a regulatory adviser if your app makes clinical decisions.
Related questions and guides.
- Does my app need to be HIPAA compliant?Question
- Can I send PHI to an LLM?Question
- What is a BAA?Question
- AI agent vs workflow automationComparison
- RAG vs fine-tuningComparison
- GlossaryEvery term, in plain words.
- Building a telehealth platformVideo visits, scheduling, records and HIPAA.
- Software for clinicsClinic systems, the rules that apply and how they are built.
- HIPAA guideWho HIPAA applies to and what it asks of software.
